Three dead elementary students were discovered in the back seat of a parked car outside of Dolores Huerta Elementary School in South Los Angeles, California on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The father of the children is the only suspect in the murder and was taken into police custody.

The students were brothers. They were eight – twelve years old when they were stabbed multiple times with a knife by their father. The father, who had a stab wound in the chest was hospitalized for treatment. He attempted suicide after murdering his sons. The weapon was inside the car.

The Los Angeles Police Department was notified by a passerby, who saw the victims inside a silver Nissan SUV at East 32nd Street. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said that the stabbings occurred at around 7:15 a.m.

“These are incidents that scar not only the community, but the first responders who have to handle them," said Beck at a news conference.

There will be a prayer vigil held for the three boys nearby Dolores Huerta Elementary School on Wednesday at 5 p.m. City Councilman Curren Price said that a fund has been created to help the family members of the victims.

“Many of us are parents. It’s hard enough to see a child be a victim of any crime, much less three children murdered,” said LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar.

LAPD tweeted that August 2015 has been a deadly month in the city of L.A. The Los Angeles Times reports that there were 39 homicides within the city in the month of August alone.